Okay well ... Violetkey and I are tired of being unhealthy ... I put on some major tonnage this last winter and it's not been just falling off during the summer. So ...

We'll keep you posted on how it goes. Right now I'm just working on getting more exercise (doing better), remembering my vitamins (also doing much better) and not eating desert every time I leave the house. The latter has been most difficult. NY does mighty fine deserts especially upstate in the small towns.

We started a Google group and invited the other girls in the family and Linda ... but ummm ... so far I'm the only one showing up to that party. ... have to work on my encouragement skills too. Like, I'm sure everyone is out working on their plans. I also need to make sure everyone actually got their invites.

The rules for V and me (& the group are)
#1 you make your own plan ... it's hugely personal
#2 no one gives advice unless advice is asked for (I've already gotten my hand slapped on this one & deservedly so.)
#3 E N C O U R A G E

Alrighty ... well .. it's a life change thing ... so I'll be reporting on the life changes.

Oh and I started reading Maker's Diet ... hmmm yeah ... thinking on that ...

We have become fast friends with Linda and Ashley. We laugh a lot. Linda tries to get me out of the house. Linda and Billy talk at the train station. Linda and Billy are the new video team at church. (I only type up the songs for display ... well and I might take notes on things that can be edited out.) I sit with Ashley during the services at church. Ashley listens to the sermons at church as best she can. Now. This can have some interesting consequences.

In Ashley's world, she is about nine years old. Sometimes she's five. Sometimes, on the phone, she can sound like she's 22. Linda has made certain that Ashley understands how to enjoy people and how to be enjoyable. This has turned out to be great fun for me.

First, Ashley decided we needed to be called Aunt Pam and Uncle Billy because we were more than just an occasional entry into her life. This is a way to make us Hers.

Then, Ashley heard the pastor say that we are all family and suddenly the whole church was full of aunts and uncles.

Always Ashley has followed the escapades of my kids. She has learned their names, anticipated Noel's arrival, rejoiced over Noel, relished the photos.

And then on my birthday she suddenly asked me ... "Aunt Pam are any of my other cousins married?"

I had to pause and think. See, Ashley has her own real collection of aunts and uncles. I quickly decided that there was no way she was asking me to review that list with her. "Ashley, do you mean are any of my kids married?"

"Yes, your kids. You're my aunt and so your kids are my cousins. Are the others married?" So we did a review.

"Aunt Pam, will I ever get to even see a picture of your kids?" Hmmm well I realized I don't have a current pic of my kids! But I'm thrilled to report that Sarah fixed that for me. I had to pick my birthday package up at the post office which I managed to do one Saturday when the four of us met for our Saturday morning tradition of breakfast at the local cafe.

In the package was a fantastic piece that included my kids and their step-sister and each with their spousal unit. This, of course, was a very very happy occasion for Ashley. And there were a few more photos of Noel.

So, kids, meet your new cousin, Ashley.

I need a little favor. Would you please post a Hello note in the comments. Ashley's about to go to "sleep away camp" for two weeks and I would love to send her off with a note from each of ya'll. You have precisely 36 hours in which to accomplish this mission.

Alrighty! Thank you very much.

I have a few announcements. Announcement #1 is that my granddaughter, Noel, was born on a temperature record-breaking day in May. Yes, I've been quietly relishing this event. Photo after Photo in my email. Do you want to see some?

This is Noel just a few hours old. She inherited her mother's little stork bite birth mark. If Noel is lucky, in second grade, she will send her teacher into a panic when it shows up while playing outside on the playground. It doesn't show unless the face is warm from exertion or crying and eventually it ends up on top of the head.

I'm starting to transfer Sarah's comments that go with the photos that are up on Flickr. She's as funny as her mother and daughter. And I have more pics that I received over the last few days. I'm very very happy to be living in the digital age. Now, next step is to teach Sarah how to put the pics on Flickr or Picasa.

I get to go see them in October ... and my son and his family, too! I might also visit my parents and brothers. We'll see if they show up to visit with us.

Ok go see the rest over on Flick'r.

Oh wait! I can't believe I forgot to mention this ... She is Elise #5 ... The line of Elise girls goes like this ... Noel Elise is the first born daughter(& currently only) of a first born daughter of a first born & only daughter of an only daughter of an only daughter. Sooo You see ... as an Elise ... her gene's have a lot of training in the "life as the spoiled & privileged." We've all often been the only or first girl in the entire extended family, too.

Ok now go explore the life of Noel.

www.flickr.com

MarillaAnne's Noel photoset

You see a birthday card ... I see ...

1. I see a loving son who cares so much for his wife that he sent me a text message to remind me that Nov. 30 was his wife's birthday.

2. I see a reminder that I left my cell phone at home and couldn't call Sam on her birthday. Well that and I was fairly sure that by the time I got home, she was sufficiently entertained by her husband.

3. I see a new addiction. This is my first experience creating cards using stamps and art papers.

4. I see a lady who has a heart for the women in our church and went to the trouble of creating an opportunity for a new ministry for fellowship and outreach.

5. I see more ladies from our church who added adorning suggestions to her idea. We are now looking forward to a full year of stamping and scrapbooking.

6. I see my disappointment that the catalog that went around at our get-together didn't have stamps in it that would create a Christmas card with a strong Christian message.

7. I see my disappointment driving me to search the web for Christmas stamps that landed me here: The Stampn'Place. They have numerous Christmas stamps that are not bashful about saying "Jesus is the reason for the season."

8. I see how the search reminded me of Dr. Dobson's recent interview with Ashley Tarter in which she explains the beginning of her campaign "It's Ok Wish me Merry Christmas." She was experiencing an overwhelming sadness that her son might grow up to live in a day when the country no longer knows of the Christmas season -- that it would be completely wiped from our culture. So she, just one person, has started something that is growing more and more.

9. I see how the search reminded me of this guy that my husband loves to follow. I encourage you to join my hubby and myself in expressing Stuart Shepard's sentiments: "Merry Tossmas!" Ya'll!

10. I see how the search led me to discover "Jews Against Anti-Christian Defamation." And I wonder -- How is it that the most persecuted religion in the world understands what we Christians want to deny, passively allow, and even blithely encourage in some ways: Christians are being persecuted more and more with every passing day RIGHT here IN the USA.

11. I see a reminder that my son has married a lady who will take great joy in knowing that there's all of this behind her birthday card. I know she believes, like Ashley Tarter, one person can make a difference and she doesn't mind stepping forward and she encourages others to do so also.

12. I see a challenge ... I don't have an envelope for the card. Hmmmm ... Wait ... I might !! I have these Christmas cards that I bought last year for this year ... I think this would be the season for pulling them out of storage!

Okay, I'll see ya'll later! I'm going to grab the cards and walk down to the cafe next to the post office .... etc ... Ya'll go explore the links I left you. You will be encouraged, stunned, and amazed.

Oh wait! Also! I see a black wool coat that a friend of mine really encouraged me to pick up at a thrift store for the mere cost of $6! And then she and I were out a few weeks later and we walked right into a hot pink cap that matches the color on this coat ... it cost ... are you ready? ONE Dollar!

My daughter-in-law will be so proud. She loves thrift stores and great deals.

Have fun,
Enjoy,
Pam

Pam is a Texan living on the Southern fringe of Upstate New York. She experienced something new yesterday. The ground was kissed with a dusting of snow and she just smiled and went on with business as usual. She did not frantically break to take photos. It was just a teaser of things yet to come. It was not her one and only chance for the entire winter season. Besides ... she was already running late to church.

First you should know that the weather was typical for Texas. Slightly cool and a touch humid. It was always above 70 degrees indoors from the heat of the kitchen stove. And so you should be able to guess that there was no lack of food. Texans Hate to run out of food when guests are involved. No Texan ever prepares for the minimum expected guests. So ...

We had a dozen mouths to eat one exceedingly large turkey ... ohh and that was one scrumptious turkey ... oh I'm being corrected ... It still is one scrumptious turkey because we still haven't managed to eat it all. There were 4 trays of dressings aka stuff'n. Candied sweet potatoes, Mashed potatoes, Red potatoes. Corn casserole -- the recipe was well known by two families from opposite sides of Texas (300 miles apart). Jellied cranberry sauce right from the can and fresh cranberry sauce which only adults knew how to eat. Two crates of Clementine oranges. The every popular, impossible to skip green bean casserole (with them onion thingies on top). And then I think it's time to move on to the deserts.

OH MY GOODNESSS....

Well of course Texans have to have Pecan Pie -- chocolate. And cherry-covered cheesecake, blueberry cheesecake, lemon icebox pie, strawberry cheesecake, peanut butter fudge, and the obligatory experimental pie. Ice cream and frozen yogurt were also available ... but they went largely untouched.

Of course, Texans can never leave the Thanksgiving scene without a rousing game of ... err ... uhhh (Darling what was that thing called) ooh Age of Empire on a network of six pc's.

We also fixed the local government. They are blissfully unaware of this event until Wednesday of next week. I'll let you know how that goes.

So I think that's about it. I hope ya'll all had a wonderful day.

Have fun,
Enjoy,
pam

Pam is a Texan living on the Southern fringe of Upstate New York. She figures the fact that she can have Thanksgiving with so many Texans is one of the reasons this place is enjoyable.

Yeah ummm I have a Christmas Tree. It's about 3.5 feet tall. I don't have my Christmas Ornaments. Maybe VioletKey will get the ornaments sorted and sent over. But It might just sit here and be pretty and green. My first concern is ... I think I'd like to rediscover my apartment. I wouldn't mind having a clean apartment and a simple little green tree.

We've been moving this that and the other around ... but not very well since Billy is in pain. It's not constant pain but it is a "zap all your time and energy" kind of pain. So ... pretty much things are shoved around ... and really not pretty at all.

I'm hoping that by Christmas, everything will be all sorted out.

ok

Have fun,
Enjoy,
pam

Pam is a Texan living on the Southern fringe of Upstate New York. Tonight she's wondering what her day tomorrow as the scullery maid will be like -- she's agreed to assist Billy with prep for Thanksgiving dinner.

Last year in NaBloPoMo there was an exemption for missing a day posting. It went something like this: If there's an emergency or some circumstance far beyond your control that prevents you from posting, AND IF you blog the following day AND talk about what happened, THEN you're still in.

I have no idea if there's the same rule this year ... but I'm going to claim it anyway ... besides ... I have something to tell you.

OK. Yesterday was Billy's second surgery. When we woke up, he started being very resistant to me going with him. His basic premise was that he wouldn't be any fun, I'd be bored, I'd be alone ... and on and on and on and on and on ... and besides, "you could help a little with the wedding."

I pouted, got over it, and stayed home. All I did the whole day was hang out with people that I like and fold crepe paper streamers. I promise ... I'll get a pic today so you can understand what I'm talking about.

Billy finally went into surgery. We called it a day at the reception decorating event. I snagged a friend and she took me out to dinner ... um she drove and entertained me and I paid for dinner ... it was an excellent trade. While we were at dinner, a very very very loopy man called me claiming to be Billy. Since he still exhibited the trademark humor of Billy, I accepted that it was indeed Billy.

Then my friend and I went to the wedding rehearsal. My friend is helping with the video. I found out that the brother of the groom, who is one of the groomsmen, is also the photographer. I don't know what the story is ... but this group of people attending the wedding is one of the LEAST camera toting bunch I've ever encountered ... so I'm taking my camera today. I'll see if I can just get some candids and some mood shots and ... then I can just hand the RAW's off to the brother who should be able to fix them up.

I might consider sending my camera to the shop. But that's another story.

Sooo after the rehearsal dinner, my friend and I went and picked up her daughter. Then we went down to the hospital to see my Billy. Now, this is NOT "We whipped around the corner and picked up her daughter and took a quick spin to the hospital." Remember, I live on the Southern fringe of Upstate New York. So it was 15 min to her daughter and then another 45 miles or so to the hospital.

We saw the loopy man. He was not happy and very easily distracted. I did get a really good hello and a really great good-bye. And I had to be content. So we left.

So we pulled up to my house by about 11:15pm. No power. No power anywhere. So my friend and her daughter waited while I gathered up a few things and I left. There wasn't going to be any power at her house either but at least she still had some emergency backup power and had water. And besides ... we were just all happier together ... long story but ... let's just say that her daughter was busy worrying about me ... and this way there was less for her to worry about.

But no power meant no post. Sooo ... there's my saga. Oh we did wake up to power and at the cafe this morning I heard, "Somebody took out about 3 power poles over on such and such county road." Somebody had a harder day than we did.

Ok now for the rest of the "did you get your husband back?" story. The very very very short version is ...

Yes, I did get the hubby back. About 4am this morning my real Billy returned to his own body (he started to feel really great) and after he issued some threats ("If you don't manage to find a way to get me released by 10:30 am, you'll be stuck with me until 6pm"), he was indeed released from the hospital and retrieved by another very good friend.

The man is home, very happy, feels fantastic. Oops! I lie! He is NOT at home. He has gone to help yet another friend cut up cooked chickens for the wedding meal tonight. Don't ask me to explain how the man can look like death warmed over the night before and then be rip-raring ready to run less than 12 hrs later. All I can say is that he is indeed his father's child. His dad was like this. Oh and, also, his dad always tried to remove all of his IV's etc and get out of bed in recovery. As did Billy.

Ok I have to run now!!!

Have fun,
Enjoy,
pam

Pam is a Texan living on the Southern fringe of Upstate New York. Today is the first wedding she has attended in New York. The ceremony is in a church that is very very old and the reception is at a farm.

I'm not sure exactly what the change will look like but ... it is a foot. My little coffee shop that I love so much may morph. It's a rather huge big deal.

I'm waiting for some pieces to move into place ... and I'm evaluating what I will do.

Okay no this is not just about a game! This is about my RL art, my RL writing, and community. I'll tell you more as the story unfolds.

In the mean time ... There's a huge amount of other RL stuff going on this weekend. Well starting tomorrow. I'm helping a friend decorate for her son's wedding. Then Billy goes in for stage two of his trama ... probably an overnight stay. Then the wedding. Then helping with the Christmas Child project at church here and there.

Ooooh let me tell you! The Christmas Child Project ... wow wow wow. People are very generous and there's been a very nice stack growing and growing all week ... and there's still four more days left for collecting. Usually the largest days. It's causing a small storage challenge for the wedding but ... we're figuring it out and everyone is stepping up to the plate to help out and it's just amazing.

Deciding how I'm folding, doubling, mutilating or spindling the coffee shop will have to keep until Monday. I leave you with a few pics.

Sooo I must sleep, now.

Have fun,
Enjoy,
pam

Pam is a Texan living on the Southern fringe of Upstate New York. She is thankful to belong to a church that does know how to do one thing right: Accomplish projects in harmony ... everyone doing some part. Amazing.

So tell me what could the Tooth Fairy, your comments, Mary-LEU's award, 100% humidity, wounded wings, computer reloads, colds, pink eye, lightening, coffee shops, and another long assortment of events / items possibly have in common? How about the word "oops"?

The Tooth Fairy

The first "oops" is just for all you Tooth Fairy assistants out there.

One Tooth Fairy Assistant stopped by my husband's workplace recently. He shared this real life, absolutely true story.

One of his little wards left her tooth out for collection. He slipped in to her room as she slept, flipped open his wallet, pulled out a bill, and made the swap. Business as usual.

The next morning the very, very excited little darling ran to her daddy waving a $50 bill. Yes, that's F I F T Y.

The warning that the Tooth Fairy Assistant delivered is this: Never pull a bill from you wallet in the dark.

Poor Tooth Fairy Assistant only had a $5 bill with which to buy his lunch -- for several days.

Running Damaged

OOoops! For weeks I had a damaged shoulder from mousing around too much. But I started doing some stretching exercises, changed some sleeping habits, took more ibuprofen than I like to, and gradually started to improve.

I also ordered a $20 pen tablet to use more often than my mouse. It's a referb. I knew I was buying old technology. Oops! When it arrived, the box said "Works great with Windows 98!" But I tell you it also works great with Windows XP! Vista? What's Vista?

Ok this is just plain sick

Let's see ... On 8/25, I came and logged in to approve Atypical's comment from 8/8!! And oops! Not only was I shamefully slow in posting Atypical's post, I discovered that my comment notifications were no longer being received by my email (not that this is a guarantee because I don't always ck my email ... But ... Still!)

I'm going to plead for you to take into consideration that I had to reload my pc right in about this time as it was sick with some spybot of some sort.

And Ooops! Around the 20th came down with a cold.

But, here I was, on Saturday, the 25th (remember?) and I thought I was settling in to write a response to your comments and post an update, etc.

OOops! The day was rapidly heating up and the humidity was getting intense. We finally decided that even though I was only marginally well we HAD to leave the house out of self-defense. For example, the kitchen floor is ceramic tile and it was wet like it had been raining inside the house. Literally. And that bugger was slick as boogers. We were also concerned about running the pc's in conditions like that.

So we went to White Plains in what turned out to be 100 degree heat and 100% humidity to hide in the bookstore and pick up my new glasses.

OOOppps! My glasses are tri-focal transitional ... Ummm I'm fairly sure that the mid-range is messed up. Even after practicing with them for all this time, I'm still convinced. Soooo why not make a return trip to get them checked?

OOoops! On the following Wednesday ... just as my cold was truly receding ... I woke up with pink-eye aka conjunctivitis ... the VIRAL version, of course! So no three-day cure with antibiotics for me! It still dribbles some! Lets see I'm into day about day 10 ... at least I'm not waking up with my eye glued shut anymore! And I can even look at the computer for several hours at a time!

Oh but get this Oooops! Somehow I've still managed to gain a little weight! With next to no appetite! Go fish.

In the Billy Department

About two weeks ago Billy went to the doctor. So Ooops now he's scheduled for a little minor surgery in early October to rid of an annoying cyst-thing. He's relieved. So, really that might not fit the oops category.

But this does: Ooops! There was flooding in Ohio. The Southern Baptist Disaster Relief teams were called and Billy and another gentleman agreed to go ... but ... oops there were a few things to consider before they could leave ... and then oops there were enough people for the week ... plan for next weekend ... then oops ... really there were so many people and progress was going so well that well ... never mind.

Goodness all that "oh I'm going" "Oh, no, I'm going later" etc got a bit confusing. So much so that at one point I found myself making plans in my head for while Billy was gone ... even after I knew he wasn't leaving!

OH and there's this rather large OOOOPS!

How to NOT Light up My Life. Please!

We live on top of a hill. Our apartment is in the basement. (Only the bedroom can't see out, it's not a dungeon.) Up here, summer is thunderstorm season. So adding those two together we already knew better than to leave any computer equipment plugged in during a rain event. And we don't go to bed or leave until they are unplugged.

So, a storm moved in and we did all the usual things: unplugged the pc's, closed the windows, did not get in the shower, etc.

Yes. This time the house got struck and Ooops! Billy became part of the light show. He was cooking. The pot was an all metal stew pot. Ok, so, add this to the "What not to do during a thunderstorm" list: Do not cook on an electric stove.

After we got over the initial shock :~p Billy proceeded to give me a lecture (complete with props) about volts and amps. I'll spare you all the details. The bottom line is that there were enough volts for an impressive light show but not enough amps to kill him -- just give him the "hebejeebies."

Thank God!

Your Comments, Your Blogs, Mary-LUE's Award

Now, truly things are out of control here, in this department. I am struggling for balance. I miss ya'll.

First off, OOoops, the idea of trying to respond in posts instead of when I approve your comments ... obviously isn't working and isn't going to work. So, I'm returning to the old system.

I did enjoy reading the posts that ya'll linked to. Thank you very much!

And ya'll should find it amusing that my friends and family are beginning to tell me about ya'll's blogs ... Yes! It's true. And, no, not just Daughter V.

And I'm humiliated to admit that Daughter V had to tell me about my award, Mary-LUE. I should have found your note so much sooner! And that it's taken me this long to say "Thank you!" is beyond disgraceful. I really appreciate your kind words and hope that you still think most of the good things that you've thought before.

As to my own Writing

OOoops, I started this post in my journal on 8/29 while I was at the coffee shop waiting on my train to the doc's office.

Oooops, I typed up the first 1/3 on 9/4 ... and oooops it's taken most of today to get this finished (in between other stuff).

So, obviously, I need to go back to my 15 min a day plan.

I also started a Second Life blog for MarillaAnne. I did this because that particular blog hangs around in my profile in Second Life. That profile is one click away from every crazy and every wonderful person in there. So, yes, even though we all know that I can be tracked to this blog ... AND even though we all know there is a certain measure of risk in writing about ourselves on the web ... I have still decided to make it necessary for Second Lifer's to make it a research project to get to this blog. Ok it's a really short research project ... but you get it.

But oops ... I've not been writing for it either!

So by now you're thinking ... wait ... this woman has been wounded, sick, and obviously a little distracted with life ... is she really still in Second Life?

Ummm, yes.

And now I own a coffee shop in Second Life.

But oooops I'm going to weasel out of writing about it right this second because it will require several posts and for some reason my eye has become very unhappy with me and it is now past my bed time.

I started to go to bed and you know add some more to this in the morning ... but ... I think I've droned on enough in this post.

And ... just because this feels like a really long letter for the folks back home (yes, especially my fellow bloggers) ...

I just want ya'll to know I miss being with ya'll all the time and I think of you often. Hopefully, I'll be back with you soon.

Love and hugs,
Pam

Yesterday I heard from all three of my kid-o's on the phone. This in and of itself is a small miracle because usually the summer signal to my cell phone is non-existent. It was nice.

And I heard from my long, long time friend. Notice I did not say "Old Friend. She sent me a special IM greeting.

And last week one of the couples in my church surprised me with a little card. It was unexpected and it brought many encouraging words to me.

Word got around in SL and some people surprised me with a little "Linden Love" -- some of the Linden "money."

The day before my birthday I took a little tumble in my drive way. I'm fine. My hands hurt a little. Some of us had big laughs about pain on birthdays.

It's my last year to be younger than fifty. I've been given a perspective lately that I am not really old yet. My parents are into their seventies. They attend church with people who are at least 15 years older than them. These people are quick to assure my parents that they are still young (and not quite as wise as they). This exact sentiment was shared with me by a lady whom I shared about 15min of space with in the airport. She was 87 and quite bright-eyed. Basically, she just said, "Never quit."

Okay so ... yeah ... I am in Dallas. Do you want to know why I am in Dallas? No, actually it has nothing to do with being homesick.

They were classmates in first grade . . .

Providence brought them back together in high school . . .

Undoubtedly [DaddyRay] thought [Mother H]'s beautiful smile and demure way were even more charming than in elementary school . . .

Likely [MotherH] thought [DaddyRay]'s curly hair and blue eyes were as debonair as ever . . .

A few short years after they discreetly held hands on the school bus under a pile of coats. . .

May 1957, before God, they promised to love, honor and cherish . . .

Join us in celebrating a 50 year love affair. . .



~~~~
The wording: My daughters came up with. I think that part was mostly Daughter S's doing.

The invitation: Daughter VioletKey used her BS to do the invitation design. They made a fantastic creation.

The images: My Daughter S had to break down and tell my parents that they were planning a surprise anniversary party for them ... just to keep them from leaving town. So in the process she also acquired their co-operation.

My additional note: He still smirks like that when he looks at her ... ever so pleased that he caught such a catch!

~~~~
If you happen to be my parents ... Shhh it's a secret that I'm here and no, I really didn't lie. We really are hoping to come as a unit to visit in September. Billy really isn't here. He really is at the Southern Baptist Disaster Relief Training in NY (yes NY, ya'll) and I really would have gone with him if I were there.

And no your daughter-in-law and son did not lie to you ... especially not your daughter-in-law because she really hadn't heard any more about me coming ... from me.

Besides this is huge and it required massaging the truth a little ...

Also, do not call me on the phone tonight. I am asleep. I am delerious.

And, Atypical, I am not using Firefox so there's probably typo's ;-) ... feel normal.

Sooooo ... yeah I'm sure there's questions ... ask. Sometime I'll answer ... I would say tomorrow ... but it seems that for me especially ... tomorrow never comes.

3. What are some methods you use to keep a little bit of Texas with you wherever you go?

And so I continue to answer Atypical's interview questions out of order.

This question caused me to laugh. We all know I've been suffering from a wave of Texas Spring Fever. One of the things I did was order a Texas Travel Guide. I was looking through it today. It started reminding me of things ... things it never intended.

There is something uniquely different about Texas and it's in the people. We don't understand how independent we are.

We've been told we're un-accepting of people different from us but that's a huge lie that we tend to let people believe -- mainly because we're independent and don't need a stamp of approval. We're actually very friendly and outgoing and people from the North tend to thaw out after they move down there.

In Texas, if you express a hope or dream strongly, people seem to automatically believe you are capable of accomplishing it and they automatically start directing you to people in their network who can probably help. Some call it the "good ol' boy" system but the women share their resources as well. Lately, the ranks are merging and the men and women are sharing their networks.

And Texans tend to be the types that believe in right and wrong ... which contributes to our independent ways.

These are the parts of Texas that are always with me because they are always in me. It makes it difficult for new areas of the country to assimilate me. It made Oregon impossible for me to enjoy. Kansas is difficult for me to understand. New Yorkers are actually a lot more like Texans than they know -- well at least the one's out away from NYC are. Possibly this is because not so many generations ago Texas was populated by people from the east coast. Even families that hailed from Tennessee were only a generation or maybe two away from the Virginia area.

Because of the lifestyle changes Billy and I chose and that were sometimes chosen for us, much of what is Texas is in my laptop (ok well now in my desktop) because dragging Things around the countryside in small vehicles and later in boxes and then even in backpacks ... is a PAIN. But it is amazing what can be cherished in pixels. I have photos of people, places, and things. I have emails and saved chats. And then, Lord, what the Internet holds for me of Texas is most amazing.

I would have to say that one of the most defining things about me ... that is Texas with me ... is that I cannot seem to leave an area without saying, "Whelll ... Ya'll have fun. See ya later." (That is a three syllable "well.") I Say This to Complete Strangers that I have Not made any arrangement with that would even hint at a hope of seeing them later. Now, that confuses the daylights outta people. But it's Texan.

The other thing I do is claim to be "A Texan living on the southern fringes of Upstate New York and loving it." For some reason people are usually amazed to find out that I, as a Texan, love living here. "Upstate New York" cannot be clearly defined by New York natives. It confuses me that everyone in the populace here has a differing idea of where Upstate begins and ends. Then, I was shocked to find out that the New York court system considers me to be living in Upstate while another government body considers me to be living in a portion of the "New York City metropolitan area" ... which is just as wrong as saying I'm upstate. The Federal Courts consider me to be part of the Southern District But if I claim to be from Southern New York, then there's whole 'nuther region that would object. Then my husband stated trying to tell me that we live in the Hudson Valley ... Uh NO! We do not live near the "canyon" that the Hudson River flows through. I don't care that a portion of our county does. We do not. We actually live on the edge of The Great Swamp. But, if I say that, then people think I live in New Jersey. I'm just sooo much better off saying I live in New York, near Danbury Connecticut.

So my revenge is in the ironies of my statement of who I am, where I live, and how I feel about it. If I'm going to be confused, everyone else can be confused, too.

Ok so I started out to put together just a small sampling of how I keep Texas with me digitally. Well, I had to include a bit of this and a bit of that and, well, it was just wrong not to show you the people ... because the spit-fire and mischievousness shows up in their eyes ... along with the "Hey! There you are!" attitude ... As usual ... it got way out of hand. There's about 255 images. They are small so they display quickly. I know for a fact that I will not leave this album up in it's entirety -- definitely a "limited time" offer.

You have options:
1) View the slide show and set the display to about 2 seconds. OR
2) View the thumbnails and pick and choose. But if you can't tell why the image is in the group ... you should click on it.

Texas to Me

Family, Friends,
Fireworks, Flowers, Dogs, Lakes, Land,
Starbucks, Moon, and Sun.

Finally!!

That's about 72 miles away. Now, there's no telling when it will get here tomorrow.

Arrgggg!

Okay I think I might should tell ya'll some of the rest of the story.

Back ... wwway back ... before MailBoxes etc was a household name ... back when the franchise was maybe four or five years old, I worked in one of the stores.

It was fascinating. People thought the counter was the bar and I was the bartender. They'd walk in and put their packages down and then fill me in on alllllllllllll the drama surrounding this package -- and if I was really lucky, they'd also include their life story.

One thing we did on a regular basis was call the customer service people to track down a package. It was just a regular love-fest. Not.

So fast forward about fifteen years and what did my Daughter V do for about 1.5 yrs? She worked at a FedEx/Kinko's. She did everything I did at MBE in a whole new modern way.

Guess what ... nothing's really changed as far as people go. One small advantage she had: She could at least try to track a package by looking it up online. 'Cause that love-fest thing with customer service ... that didn't change either.

And we're both laughing about my frustration about the (lack of) tracking re my baby. Just because you know how the system works doesn't take away anxiety.

Next stage: Will it be in one working piece if it does actually make it to my door?

After all ... to quote my former employer ... "They say there's not a war on but I'd never know it by the shape these boxes arrive in."